Defiant PM blames boat surge on Abbott

A day after the government decided to temporarily abandon its plans for offshore processing, a defiant Ms Gillard was warning of the consequences.

"We are at risk of seeing more boats," she told ABC Radio on Friday.

"If we do see that, there is one person to blame, Tony Abbott, for this mindless negativity, his reckless strategy which has brought offshore processing to an end."

The government has been forced to put on hold planned changes to migration laws that would have allowed it to resurrect its people swap deal with Malaysia.

In the meantime, it will allow more asylum seekers to stay in community detention, in response to an expected surge in boat arrivals.

Labor does not have the numbers to get its changes through parliament, after losing the support of key crossbenchers and the Australian Greens.

The coalition says it will back Labor's migration law changes, provided offshore processing is limited to third countries that have signed up to the UN refugee convention.

Malaysia has not signed the convention.

Mr Abbott is not giving ground on the issue, telling the government if it was serious about offshore processing "they could have it tomorrow".

"All they have to do is accept the opposition's amendment," he told ABC Television on Friday.

Mr Abbott took aim at the prime minister blaming her stubbornness for the government's dilemma.

"She should have known weeks ago that the Malaysia people swap was dead, she has never had a plan B."

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen confirmed asylum seekers in detention now would be eligible for bridging visas that would allow them to live in the community.

Determinations would be made on a case-by-case basis, he said.

The move has been welcomed by Human Rights Commissioner Catherine Branson.

"We believe it will show over time there is no real impediment to handling all asylum claims while people live in the community," she told ABC Radio.